Dapper Dan attends the Harlem's Fashion Row fashion show during New York Fashion Week at Capitale on September 4, 2018 in New York.
Noam Galai/Getty
Iconic Harlem tailor Dapper Dan and Gucci have had a tempestuous relationship over the years. Dan made his name in the '80s and '90s by riffing on the fashion giant's logo before the tables were turned and, ironically, Gucci were accused of copying one of his designs. This led to Dan being officially hired by Gucci in 2017 and being made the face of the brand's tailoring campaign that year.
However, in the wake of a racism scandal that saw Gucci withdraw a polo neck sweater after complaints it resembled blackface, the relationship between both sides looks uneasy once more.
Posting about the incident on Instagram on Sunday, Dan released a statement in which he said there is "no excuse nor apology that can erase this kind of insult," and explained that he was meeting with Gucci bosses in Harlem. He ended his decisive statement by writing: "There cannot be inclusivity without accountability. I will hold everyone accountable."
The Italian brand removed the offending item from its website shortly after the backlash began. In a statement of their own, released last week, Gucci stated that it would turn the incident “into a powerful learning moment for the Gucci team”, adding it was “fully committed to increasing diversity.”